Solving Problems Involving Variation
Steps in solving problems involving Variations
One thing common about word problems is the need to understand and carefully
analyse the details of the given problem.
Step 1: Given - Determine the given including the type of variation. Look for keywords
to identify the variation type.
Step 2: Unknown - Identify what is being asked in the problem.
Step 3: Equation – Determine the standard equation based on the identified variation.
Step 4: Solution – Solve for the value of k and identify the mathematical equation for the
variation. Solve for the unknown
Step 5: Answer
Illustrative examples:
A. If 𝑻 varies directly as 𝑹 and 𝑻 = 55 when 𝑹 = 11, find the constant of variation.
From the given statement,
If 𝑇 varies directly as 𝑅 and 𝑇 = 55 when 𝑅 = 11, find the constant of variation.
Step 1: Given
From the keyword “varies directly”, the problem involves Direct variation.
T = 55 when R = 11
Step 2: Asked
Determine the constant of variation k
Step 3: Equation
T = kR
Step 4: Solution
Use the equation then substitute the given. Solve to determine the value of k.
𝑇 = 𝑘𝑅 Standard equation
55 = 𝑘(11) Substitute the value of the given
!! ""
""
= 𝑘("") Divide both sides by 11 (MPE)
𝑘=5 Simplify
Step 5: Answer
The constant of variation k = 5.
B. If y varies inversely as 𝒙, and 𝒚 = 𝟔 when 𝒙 = 𝟓, write an equation describing the
variation
Step 1: Given
From the keyword “varies inversely”, the problem involves Inverse variation.
y = 6 when x = 5
Step 2: Asked
Determine the equation describing the variation.
Step 3: Equation
#
𝑘=$
Step 4: Solution
Use the equation then substitute in the given. Solve to determine the value of k.
%
𝑦=$ Standard equation
%
6=! Substitute the value of the given
%
6(5) = ! (5) Multiply both sides by 5 (MPE)
𝑘 = 30 Simplify
This time, substitute the value of k in the standard equation to determine the equation that
describes the variation. Consider the solution below.
%
𝑦=$ Standard equation
'(
𝑦= $
Substitute the value of the given
C. The quantity 𝒎 is inversely proportional to the square of 𝒏. If m= 3, when 𝒏 = 𝟒, what
is the value of m when 𝒏 = 𝟒?
Step 1: Given
From the keyword “inversely proportional”, the problem involves Inverse variation.
m = 3 when n = 4
Step 2: Asked
What is the value of m when n = 4?
Step 3: Equation
%
𝑚 = &!
Step 4: Solution
Use the equation then substitute the given. Solve to determine the value of k.
%
𝑚 = &! Standard equation
%
3 = )! Substitute the value of the given
%
3 = "* Square the number 4
%
(16)3 = "* (16) Multiply both sides by 16 (MPE)
k = 48 Simplify
Substitute k to know the mathematical equation for the variation.
%
𝑚 = &! Standard equation
)+
𝑚 = &! Substitute the value of k
From the mathematical equation, solve for the unknown or what is being asked. What is
the value of m when n = 4?
%
𝑚 = &! Mathematical equation
)+
𝑚 = )! Substitute value of n and solve for m
)+
𝑚 = "* Square the number 4
𝑚=3 Simplify
Step 5: Answer
The value of m is 3 when n = 4
D. If 𝒂 varies jointly as 𝒃 and the square root of 𝒄, and a=120 when 𝒃 = 𝟓 and c =36,
find 𝒂 when 𝒃 = 𝟗 and 𝒄 = 𝟐𝟐𝟓.
Step 1: Given
From the keyword “jointly proportional”, the problem involves Joint variation.
a = 120 when b = 5 and c = 36
Step 2: Asked
Find 𝑎 when 𝑏 = 9 and 𝑐 = 225.
Step 3: Equation
a = kbc
Step 4: Solution
Use the equation then substitute the given. Solve to determine the value of k.
𝑎 = 𝑘𝑏√𝑐 Standard equation
120 = 𝑘(5)(>36) Substitute the value of the given
120 = 𝑘(5)(6) Apply the square root of 36
120 = 30𝑘 Simplify
",( '(
'(
= '( 𝑘 Divide both sides by 30 (MPE)
k=4 Simplify
Substitute k to know the mathematical equation for the variation.
𝑎 = 𝑘𝑏√𝑐 Standard equation
𝑎 = 4𝑏√𝑐 Substitute the value of k
From the mathematical equation, solve for the unknown or what is being asked.
Find 𝑎 when 𝑏 = 9 and 𝑐 = 225.
𝑎 = 4𝑏√𝑐 Mathematical equation
𝑎 = 4(9)(>225) Substitute the value of b and c and solve for a
𝑎 = 4(9)(15) Apply the square root of 225
𝑎 = 540 Simplify
Step 5: Answer
The value of a is 540 when b is 9 and c is 225.
E. The speed of the car travelling from A to B varies inversely with the time taken for the
travel. If its speed is 60km/hr, it would take 3 hours for the journey. Find the time it
would take for the journey if its speed is 90 km/hr
Step 1: Given
Let us consider S – speed of the car
T – time taken for the travel
From analysing the context, we can come up with the idea that the time taken for the
travel depends on the speed of a car travelling from A to B. Meaning, the faster the car, the
shorter the time it takes to arrive at a particular destination. Rewriting the situation as variation
statement, we have:
The time taken for the travel T varies inversely as the speed of the car S.
If its speed is 60km/hr, it would take 3 hours for the journey ,
Writing in symbols, we have S = 60 when T = 3.
Also, the type of variation for this problem is Inverse.
Step 2: Asked
Find the time it would take for the journey if its speed is 90 km/hr
In symbols, find the value of T when S = 90.
Step 3: Equation
!
𝑇="
Step 4: Solution
Use the equation then substitute the given. Solve to determine the value of k.
%
𝑇= Standard equation
-
%
3= Substitute the value of the given
*(
%
(60)3 = *( (60) Multiply both sides by 60 (MPE)
k = 180 Simplify
Substitute k to know the mathematical equation for the variation.
%
𝑇=- Standard equation
"+(
𝑇= -
Substitute the value of k
From the mathematical equation, solve for the unknown or what is being asked.
Find the time it would take for the journey if its speed is 90 km/hr
In symbols, find the value of T when S = 90.
"+(
𝑇= -
Mathematical equation
"+(
𝑇= .(
Substitute the value of S and solve for T
𝑇=2 Simplify
Step 5: Answer
T = 2 when S = 90.
It will take 2 hours to travel from point A to B with a speed of 90km/hr
F. For a given interest rate, simple interest varies jointly as principal and time.
If Php 50 000 left in an account for 4 years earns interest of Php 8 000, how much interest
would be learned in if you deposit Php 100 000 for 7 years?
Step 1: Given
Let us consider I = simple interest,
p = principal
t = time
The problem involves joint variation as evident of the keyword ‘varies jointly”
From the statement “If Php 50 000 left in an account for 4 years earns interest of
Php 8 000”, we can have the following given:
p = 50 000, t = 4 and I = 8 000
Step 2: Asked
How much interest would be earned in if you deposit Php 100 000 for 7 years?
In symbols, what is I when p = 100 000 and t = 7?
Step 3: Equation
𝐼 = 𝑘𝑝𝑡
Step 4: Solution
Use the equation then substitute the given. Solve to determine the value of k.
𝐼 = 𝑘𝑝𝑡 Standard equation
8 000 = 𝑘(50 000)(4) Substitute the value of the given
8 000 = 𝑘(200 000) Simplify
+ ((( ,(( (((
,(( (((
= 𝑘(,(( ((() Divide both sides by 200 000 (MPE)
"
𝑘= Reduce to lowest terms
,!
Substitute k to know the mathematical equation for the variation.
𝐼 = 𝑘𝑝𝑡 Standard equation
"
𝐼 = ,! 𝑝𝑡 Substitute the value of k
From the mathematical equation, solve for the unknown or what is being asked.
How much interest would be earned in if you deposit Php 100 000 for 7 years?
In symbols, what is I when p = 100 000 and t = 7?
"
𝐼 = ,! 𝑝𝑡 Mathematical equation
"
𝐼 = ,! (100 000)(7) Substitute the value of S and solve for T
𝐼 = 28 000 Simplify
Step 5: Answer
T = 28 000 when p = 100 000 and t = 7.
The interest of 100 000 would be 28 000 after 7 years.
Solving Problems Involving Variation
Name: ______________________________ Score:______________
Section: _____________________ Date: ______________
Directions: Solve the following problems following G-U-E-S-A.
1. y varies directly as x, and y = 12 when x = 4. What is the value of y when x = 12?
2. If 3 men can do a portion of a job in 8 days, how many men can do the same job
in 6 days?
3. w varies directly as the square of x and inversely as p and q. If w = 12 when
x = 4, p = 2 and q = 20, what is w when x = 3, p = 8 and q = 5?